LOOKING BACK 36 YEARS
Impeachment of Governor Butler Elec
tion of Senator Hitchcock.
AN EXCITING SESSION OF LEGISLATURE
Father, State Senator in 1871, Son, Gov
ernor of Nebraska in 1907.
( Ity Ha-.ll S. Kamvv
Many old settlers will remember and
not a few younger ones have heard of
the great political contest in Nebraska
in 1870. Nebraska had been a state
less than four years, but the republi
can party had had undisputed sway in
governmental, atTairs ever since state
organization in 1867. David Butler
was governor and General John M.
Thayer was one of the two United
States senators. General Thayer's
successor was to be elected as
was also Governor Sutler's. Both
were candidates for re-election, but
t here was not only pronounced opposi
tion but open revolt against their re
election. This opposition was led by
some of the most prominent and lead
ing republicans in the state and in no
county in the state was the opposition
more intense than in Ca?s. The other
T'nitfHl States senator Thomas W. i
Tipton was on the stump making a j
special light against Governor Sutler. I
l'.ut in Cass county the political situ
ation was interesting. When the
question of state orgiation was before
the voters of Cass county in there
was very strong oppositisn.
On June 2, 1 the vote on state
organization was taken. Cass county
cast 713 votes, of which 40 were
against becoming a state. But, by
counting the soldier vote at Fort
Kearney, of which i:?i were for state
organization and 31 against, and after
throwing out Rock Bluffs precinct,
which had given a heavy vote against
state organization, the constitution
was declared adopted by the small ma
jority of 101. In this contest in Cass
county for state organization, party
lines were discarded and leading re
publicans and leading democrats
worked together against the scheme.
Among those then leading republi
cans who fought against the new de
parture were the late lion. Lawson
Sheldon, the late Levi G. Todd and
many others. The apparent fraud,
perpetrated in declaring the constitu
tion adopted by counting the soldier
vote and disfranchising Rock Bluffs,
had not been forgotten in 170.
As before stated, many of those re
publicans who had opposed state or
ganization, were in open revolt against
the re-election of Butler and Thayer.
In Cass county, democrats were alive
to their interests. For the time being,
they coalesced with their political op
ponents, and a mass convention nomi
nated an independent ticket as fol
lows: State senator, Lawson Sheldon,
republican; Hoat senator, Willitt Pot
tinger, republican: representatives,
James M. Patterson and John Rouse,
democrats and Joseph G. Cannon
and D. L. Clapp, republicans. Of
this ticket, all became members
of the legislature of 1S71 except
Mr. Clapp, who was defeated by
the late Frank M. Wolcott of Weep
ing "Water. Mr. Tottinger had an
nounced himself an independent can
didate for iloat senator for Cass,Sarpy,
Saunders and Butler counties some
time before he was nominated by the
mass convention. He boldly told the
voters why he wanted to be senator,
lie wanted to help defeat General
Thayer's re-election as United States
senator. The vote on the election of
senator was taken January 13, 1371,
which resulted in the defeat of Thayer
and the election of Phineas W. Hitch
cock, father of Hon. Gilbert M. Hitch
cock, editor and proprietor of the
World-nerald and recently elected
congressman for the Second district of
Nebraska. After settling the sena
torial question Senator Pottinger re
signed and returned to Plattsmouth.
He did not remain to take part in the
Impeachment of Governor Butler,
which took place afterward during
that session. Many of the charges
against Butler, made during the cam
paign, were revamped and finally put
into legal form by a committee of the
house of representatives. This com
mittee bled eleven articles of impeach
ment. On March G, 171, the senate became
a High Court of Impeachment. There
was a long and tedious trial. Able
counsel were employed on both sides,
among them being the late Turner M.
Marquctt formerly of Plattsmouth,
who was one of Gov. Butler's counsel.
The trial lasted for nearly three
months until June 2, 1571, when the
case was finally submitted to the jury
the senate of Nebraska sitting as a
High Court of Impeachment. Each
specification in each of the eleven ar
ticles of impeachment was voted on
separately and the accused acquitted
on all the charges except those con
tained in article one. Upon this he
was convicted and then the question
arose as to the extent of punishment,
whether simply ret oval and disquali
fication. The question of punishment was
finally presented to the High Court of
Impeachment in the form of an order
removing the governor from office,
but not extending to disqualification
from thereafter holding office. Upon
this question Senator Sheldon voted
nay, explaining his vote as follows: "I
desire to explain my vote as, I under
stand, that order only removes from
oflice and if it pass, that will be the
extent of the judgment. If the gov
ernor is a suitable person to hold oflice
hereafter, I do not see why we should
remove him at the present time and
for that reason I shall vote nay."
However, the order was made by the
court and the governor only removed
from office.
But what a change since thirty-six
years ago! Senator Sheldon was then
in the prime of life and one of the
ablest men in the state and one of the
most substantial citizens. Nature had
stamped him with some of the very
highest attributes of the human mind
and heart honesty, fearlessness, abili
ty and consistency. Although dead
for a number of years, yet history now
records him as the father of the first
native born Nebraska governor Gov.
George Lawson Sheldon. When the
father was wrestling with the prob
lems of state government thirty-six
years ago taking part in one of the
greatest impeachment trials known in
the history of any state the future
governor was then only about a year
old, but now one of the strongest and
most popular governors .in t!:e history
of Nebraska.
STRANGE LAD DIES IN IOWA
Young Man Dies Among Strangers and in
a Strange Land.
The Griswold, Iowa, authorities
have telephoned here in search of par
ents or relatives of a young lad who
died in that place yesterday. The lad
gave his name as Chas. Martin, and
his age 10 years; he has dark hair and
eyes, and is 5 feet 0 inches in height.
The lad was an absolute stranger to
all parties in Griswold and the author
ities are very anxious to ascertain
where his parents reside.
W. R. C. Installation of Officers.
At a regular meeting of the Wo
men's Relief Corps, Saturday. January
12, the following officers were installed
for the ensuing year:
President, Mrs. Bertha Peterson;
Senior Vice-President, Mrs. Elma
Kuhney; Junior Vice-President, Mrs.
Mary Curry; Treasurer, Mrs. Sarah
Kerr; Claplain, Mrs. Gallagher; Con
ductor, Mrs. Loretta Ault; Guard,
Mrs. Williams; Secretary, Mrs. Jennie
Dodge; Musician, Miss Minnie Ault;
Patriotic Instructor, Mrs. T. M. Car
ter; Press Correspondent, Mrs. J. W.
Thomas; Assistant Conductor, Mrs.
Ellen Ilickson; Assistant Guard, Mrs.
Frances Hospenthal: Color Bearers,
Misses Gertrude Stenner, Daisy
Thomas, Celia Matson and Pearl
Barker.
Calf Without Eyes or Tail.
There is quite a curious sort of a
calf down near Bartlett, Iowa, and
the Thurman Times says of it:
"J. E. Baker of Bartlett has a curi
osity in the shape of a steer calf at his
place which was born into the world
without eyes, and without the caudal
appendage so useful to the four-footed
creatures of the world in fly time.
"The little fellow is entirely with
out sight, the only suggestion of eyes
being two narrow slits grown firmly
together. Dozens of people have come
to the Baker place to see the calf,
which is now four months old and
lively as a cricket.
"Despite the great handicap with
which nature has endowed him.
his calfship has no difficulty in pick
ing his mother out from the heard,
nor has he any trouble in finding the
front of material comfort when dinner
time comes, ne therefore is thriving
and waxing fat and promises to de
velope into a choice bit of beef. This,
however, will hardly be his fate as he
is too much of a curiosity and would
make quite a feature for a traveling
show."
Commission on Constitution.
A bill will be introduced within a
day or two providing for the creation
of a constitutional revision commis
sion to prepare a comprehensive set of
amendments that will bring the con
stitution of Nebraska up to date. The
suggestion of a constitutional revision
commission comes from Victor Rose
water, editor of The Bee. who freely
admits that the idea was one of his
father's and had been outlined by the
latter prior to his death. The com
mission is to consist of five members
three republicans and two democrats
to be appointed by Governor Shel
don, and will meet in Lincoln within
a week after their appointment and
proceed to business.
"Pineules" (non-alcoholic) made
from resin from our Pine Forests, used
for hundreds of years for Bladder and
Kidney diseases. Medicine for thirty
days, 81. Guaranteed to give satisfac
tion or money refunded. Get our
guarantee coupon from Gering & Co.
CHANGES ARE VERY GOOD
We May Ba Able to Get a Factory in the
Near Future.
M. E. SMITH COMPANY OF OMAHA
Plattsmouth Looks Good to Them as a Site
for Another Factory.
While in Omaha yesterday W. W.
Coates called on the firm of M. E.
Smith & Co., manufacturers of shirts
and overalls, and in conversation with
them they told Mr. Coates they had
fully decided to locate another factory
in some town near Omaha, and that,
too, in the very near future.
Plattsmouth looked good to them,
but the question of power, water and
help would be one of the main con
siderations in selecting a new location.
At present they are short of help in
their Omaha factory, and are unable
to supply the goods they have a de
mand for, and the second factory has
become a necessity.
The question of day electric power
in Plattsmouth is cue that our people
should first consider, as the power
proposition will come up when most
any and every kind of a factory is asked
to locate in our tow:;. Electricty is
the cheapest and requires less atteu-;
tion than any ether power today, and
all factories, no matter how great or
small will seek towns where good
electric plants can be found.
If M. E. Smith & Co. be induced to
locate their second factory in Platts
mouth, it would mean the employ
ment of a great many people, and is
certainly a proposition that our people
should make an effort to secure if
possible and it looks as though our
chances were good.
We understand that there are a
number of smaller concerns that are
contemplating locating here, one of
which may be established in the very
near Tuture. Why not go after them
Now?
Off for Kansas.
A party of seven prominent Cass
county farmers and Plattsmouth.busi
ness men departed over the Missouri
Pacific last night for Western Kansas,
where they go with a view of buying
land. The party was composed of T.
M. Patterson, Fred G. Egenberger,
John Kaffenberger, Wm. Rummel,
Wm. Seybert, Chris Tscherrin and
Judge H. D. Travis. The party will
be gone all this week, and will visit
numerous points during that time. A
great many Cass county people now
hold Kansas farms and seem to be of
the opinion that they have made good
investments. The western part of
the state seems to be preferred consid
ering the price of land.
Some Meteorological Records.
(Contributed.)
On the evening of February 15, 1719,
a brilliant aurora borealis was observed
throughout IS'ew England. There was
great excitement and fear among the
ignorant add superstitious, due to the
dark blood-red appearance of aurora.
A severe blizzard swept over the
Middle Atlantic States and New Eng
land on March 11, 1SS3. Traffic of all
kinds was suspended for several days,
and the streets of New York blockaded.
The coldest on record in the United
States for January was at Williston,
N. D.. on January 9, 1333, when the
temperature fell to 49 below zero.
The Problem Solved.
Bacteriologists have discovered that
the use of the broom is the cause of
most of our Ills. They have ascer
tained at this late day that the rais
ing of the dust fills the air and lungs
with disease germs. What a God-send
this discovery will be to mankind.
How we have suffered while our bet
ter half has threshed about the house,
her head tied up in a dust rag, making
everybody uncomfortable in her mad
pursuit of dust. We often wonder
why it is that so many men are driven
to drink. The problem is solved. It
is the thirst of the microbes in their
lungs
The Chicken Pie Supper.
The chicken pie supper given by the
Ladies Auxiliary of the Presbyterian
church last evening was in every par
ticular fully up to the expectations of
all. The chicken pie was up to its
usual high standard of excellence and
the attendance was large. Early in
the evening the delicious chicken pie
had disappeared, and there were many
more hungry persons to come, who
were fed by other delicacies. The oc
casion was a grand success both so
cially and financially.
"Suffered day and night the torment
of itching piles. Nothing helped me
until I used Doan's Ointment. It
cured me permanently." non. John
R. Garrett, mayor, Girard. Ala.
First Sleighing Party.
The first bob-sled sleighing party of
the season took place last evening
when the clerks at the store E. G. Io-
vey & Son went out to the borne of 11
W. Livingston, three miles southeast
of Plattsmouth to spend the evening.
The entire party were supplied with
tin horns, and the residents along the
road were reminded of the fact that
"som ething was doing." A good sup
ply of fresh oysters was taken along,
and an excellent supper prepared. Fol
lowing were those present: Misses
Julia Herman, Jessie Dutfie, Mamie
Koehnke, and Grovener Dovey and
sister, Miss Florence, Albert Brissey
and D. A. Osborn and wife.
HOT ALL FROM MISSOURI
But Congress Must bs Shown Thit Steam
boats Cm Navigate the Mis
souri Riier.
A special from Omaha says: "G.W.
Wattles, as president of the Omaha
Grain exchange and promoter of the
new steamboat line on the Missouri
river, has received from Congressman
Kennedy a letter stating that in all
probability the $.10,000,000 appropria
tion for rivers and harbors improve
ment will pass congress, and that the
Missouri river will receive a small por
tion, and a small portion only, of it.
"It will be necessary for the Mis
souri river cities to demonstrate that
there is actual steamboating in pro
gress on the river before the river can
hope to Ljet very much of future appro
priations but if this is shown to tbe
satisfaction of congress larger appro
priations wiii not be hard to get.
Therefore, it is up to Omaha, Mr.
Wattles asserts, to get a steamboat
line started at once." .
With tbe assistance of the cities
along the river between Omaha and
Kausas City, tbe fact should be easily
demonstrated that with the proper
assistance from the government the
Missouri river can easily be made so
that boats can ply up and down the
same with ease. The cities along the
lower Missouri have demonstrated
this fact between Kansas City and St.
Louis, and the same can be done from
Kansas City to Omaha. But Omaha
people will have to get a move on
them.
Parts With Cass County Realty.
According to the Glen wood (Iowa)
Tribune, Uncle Joe Cannon has dis
posed of his farm near Greenwood, to
a resident of Mills county. The Tri
bune says:
. , "Chas. F. Timmons, the well known
farmer living south of Pacific Junc
tion in Lyons township, has bopght a
farm across the river in Cass county,
Nebraska, located three miles south
of Greenwood. He buys the farm
from Uncle Joe Cannon of Illinois,
speaker of the house of representa
tvies. It comprizes 320 acres, and is
said to be one of the best half sections
in Cass county."
Re-Locates in Mills County.
The Glenwood(Iowa)Tribune speak
ing of a couple of big real estate deals
in Mills county, sajs: "Jonathan F,
Haines sold his 100-acre farm one-half
mile south ot Hillsdale to Henry Rist
for $19,000,or a triffle over $113 an acre.
Mr. Rist formerly lived in Rawles
township, but for four years past has
been located near Plattsmouth. He
reeently sold his farm there."
Fifth County.
Of the ninety counties in Nebraska,
Cass stands fourth in furnishing the
largest number of students in the
state university. The five furnishing
the largest number are as follows:
Lancaster, 1101; Douglas, 159; Gage,
63; Cass, 51, and Saunders, 50.
New Officers.
At the regular meeting of the G. A
R. last Saturday evening:, Past Com
mander Glenn installed the following
new officers: Post Commander J. H
Thrasher; Senior Vice Commander
Wm. Barnhart; Junior Vice Com
mander, Samuel Parker; Quarter
Master H. J. Streight; Adjutant T.
W. Glenn; Officer of the Day James
Hickson; Chaplain T. Carter; Guard
N. E. Renner: Delegate T. Carter.
Open the bowels and get the cold out
of your system. Kennedy's Laxative
Cough Syrup opens the bowels and at
the same time allays the inflammation
of the mucous membranes. Contains
Honey and Tar. Drives out the cold
and stops the cough. Absolutely free
from any opiates. Conforms to the
National Pure Food and Drug Law.
Pleasaet to take. Sold by F. G. Fricke
Co.
Overland Will Close.
Manager Dunbar, of the Parmele
theatre, is in receipt of a letter from
Woodward & Burgess, announcing
that the Overland theatre, of Ne
braska City, will be closed on the first
of February owing to the poor patron
age the house has received this season.
They further state that they have a
number of good attractions booked at
the Overland after that date, and that
in all probability a number of them
may be sent to the Parmele.
W. L. BROWNE PASSES AWAY
Died Suddenly of Heart Trouble at His
Home in Lincoln Last Evening.
A FORMER RESIDENT OF PLATTSMOOTH
And Well Known to Many of the Earlier
Residents of Cass County.
A telegram reached Mrs. P. P. Peter
son of this city last evening from her
daughter, Mrs. W. L. Browne, of Lin
coln, apprising her of the sad fact that
her husband had died suddenly of heart
failure about 6 o'clock. The deceased
was well known, not only in Platts
mouth, but in many sections of Cass
county, where in an early day he was
engaged in teaching school. In speak
ing of Mr. Browne's sudden death, the
Lincoln Journal of this morning says:
"William L. Browne, a prominent
lawyer of Lincoln, died shortly after ;
o'clock last evening at his residence,
410 North Sixteenth street, of heart
disease. He had just returned from
Omaha, where he delivered an address
the preceding evening before the Wes
tern Bees, of the Nebraska branch of
the Macabees.
"Mr. Browne got on tho North Six
teenth street car on Eleventh street
about ; p. m. lie accosted the motor
man in his usual jovial mood and said
that he had paid his fare only to the
south side of S street, where he de
sired to get off. About Twelfth street
he complained that his asthma was
getting the better of him. The next
block a stop was made, and while the
car was standing sun, Mr. Browne
dropped down on the step of the car
with his feet touching the ground.
The motorman called to some of the
passengers and they lifted him up and
carried him from the platform inside
the car. The car was then hurried
along the line to S street and Mr.
Browne was taken into his home. By
the time S street was reached Mr.
Browne was able to walk, with assist
ance, lie was taken into his home.
He laid down on a couch, complaining
meanwhile of inability to get his
breath. To breathe, he said, it was
necessary to lie on his stomach. It
was recognized then that he was a
very ill man, and he expired before a
physician could reach the house.
"Mr. Browne is survived by his wife
and seven children. He came to Ne
braska from Indiana many years ago,
and settled at Plattsmouth, where he
taught school for a time, was elected
county clerk, and later started the
practice of law. He moved to Lincoln
about the year 1390, and has resided
here ever since. Funeral arrange
ments have not been completed."
The deceased was well known in
Plattsmouth, and since his removal
from here to Lincoln, has been a fre
quent visitor, in a legal capacity. He
was a large, robust man, genial and
jovial, and most generally in a happy
mood. For several years he taught
tbe College Hill school, near Louis
ville, when it was in its most nourish
ing condition. He was very success
ful as a teacher, and gave general sat
isfacl ion to the patrons.
Death of Mrs. H. E. Mason.
Our citizens were very much sur
prised and pained to hear the news
last Saturday of the death of Mrs. n.
E. Mason, which occurred in a South
Omaha hospital, the result of a minor
operation, and after only a week's con
finement in the same. Mr. and Mrsf
Mason visited here, coming up from
Oklahoma, where they spent several
months. From here they went to
South Omaha and were the guests of
Mrs. Albert B.Ray, a sister of Mrs.
Mason where the latter expected to
stay while her husband and his father,
H. II. Mason, made a business trip to
Kansas. When the latter departed
they gave no thought of danger, be
ing assured that the operation was
not difficult, and the patient was on
a fair road to recovery. While near
Kansas City last Friday, word was
sent them that Mrs. Mason's condi
tion wa3 worse, and they returned
home, Mr. Mason reaching South Om
aha Saturday morniDg, and his wife
died at one o'clock that day.
Lena Ellen Mason was 31 years old.
She was married about four years ago,
and they have since resided in Weep
ing Water, where Mr. Mason was en
gaged in the hardware business, ex
cept for the past few months, when
he sold out and they went to Okla
homa. Mrs. Mason's friends here were num
bered by her acquaintance, she was
loved by all because she was the same
pleasant lady to all, in social circles,
always full of joy.
The funeral was held from the resi
dence of Mrs. Ray in South Omaha,
Tuesday at one o'clock. Quite a num
ber from Weeping Water were in at
tendance at the last sad rites. Weep
ing Water nerald.
Break
the
EUtonotony
Of your appearance by
putting a plain white or
fancy vest under that
dark coat of yours. They
are washable and they
do tone up your dress a
lot. Ours have quality
in them. Prices:
1.25 to S3.50
C. E.
Wescoli's
"Where Quality Count,."
WOODMEN OF THE WORLD
Held a Very Interesting and Successful
Entertainment Last Evening.
The home of the Evergreen Camp,
No. 70, Woodmen of tbe World, sure
presented a genuine scene of pleasure,
as well as progressiveness and advance
ment, last evening, when they added
another most successful social and en
tertaining event to their list.
The attendance was quite large and
the well-planned program consisted of
a short address by Rev. O. II. Schieh,
the sovereign lecturer of of the order,
also R. U. Windham of this city, fol
lowed by public installation of officers
and a most excellent supper.
Rev. Schieh spoke of the many good
points of the W. O. W. and the Wood
men Circle. R. 15. Windham spoke of
the good derived from such gatherings
in the social and many other ways.
The newly elected otlicers of the
camp were then installed, Rev. Schieh
acting as the installing officers as
follows:
C. C W. B. Rishel.
A. V. August Pein.
Clerk Gus Rhode.
Banker P. J. Yallery.
Escort George Becker.
Physician Dr. E. W. Cook.
Sentry Charles Trueman.
Watchman J. W. Kinser.
Manager Ed Donat.
Following the installation the mem
bers and friends of the order repaired
to the reception room where a genuine
feast awaited them prepared by the
ladies.
Rev. Schieh departed this after
noon for his home, but Mrs. Schieh,
who has already began the work of or
gan'zing a Woodmen Circle, will re
main in Plattsmouth for several days.
A Narrow Escape.
Last Saturday Chauncy Gilbert wa3
coming in from the country, bringing
a team of horses to the sale that were
hitched to the rear of the buggy. Just
as he was turning into Chas. Joyce's
place, a train came along and the team
hitched behind scared, jumped ahead,
tipping the buggy over. In the bug
gy were the whole family, Mr. and
Mrs. Gilbert and two children, and
all were spilled out, Mrs. G. being car
ried a little farther on account of get
ting caught in the top of the buggy.
They made a short run in the field,
knocked a cow down and damaged
the buggy considerably, but besides
the baby receiving a hard bump and
Mr. Gilbert a sprained leg, nothing se
rious happened, all were glad for their
luck. Weeping Water Herald.
Remedial Legislation.
The work of the legislature has s
far been confined to remedial legisla
tion. The first thing was to provide i
remedy to protect the virtue of ?b-
members against the blandishmei
of the lobbyists.and now the medir '
men are asking to be protected agair--
the people who use simple remedi
Under the laws which are now penr-
ing, if a man takes a bath to get rid f
tbe dirt, he is not an offender, bu? '
he takes a hot bath to loosen ui
cold, the man who administers .i
bath is in danger of being pulled up
before the medical board for a viola
tion of the law.
Bridge Meeting.
County Attorney Rawls, after con
sultation with the county commis
sioners, departed this morning for Pa
pilllon. where a meeting is being held
today in regard to the Platte river
bridge, which has been before the
commissioners of both counties for
some time.